Ignition apparatus



May 9, 1933. c. H. DAVIS, JR., ET AL IGNITI ON APPARATUS Filed Nov. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l ZA-JG-Rl as sz-ez gjwuemow v? .7 May 9, 1933. V c. H. DAVIS. JR, ET AL 1,907,515

IGNITION APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1931 Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES rum. DAVIS, an, AND mum L. mm'rznnn, or A DERSON, INDIANA, AS-

sIeNons 'ro DELCO-REHY CORPORATION, or ANDERSON, INDIANA, a CORPORATION OF DELAWARE IeNI'rIoN Arrma'rus Application filed November 14, 1931.. Serial No. 574,996.

0 ing application Serial No. 563,073 filed September 16, 1931. This application discloses ignition apparatus comprising a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in 5 groups simultaneously at each explosion period. This distributor comprises concentric rows of distributor posts, one row of posts being connected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine, and said distributor comprises a rotor carrying distributing conductors whi move between the rows of posts in or er to provide conducting paths at each explosion period, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired simultaneously. The other row of posts of the distributor head is connected with sparking impulse generating means controlled by theengine. My said application discloses a distributor .head having terminal posts which are connected with sparking impulse generating means equal in number to the number of spark gaps to be fired at each explosion period; and the number of sparking impulse generator terminals is equal to the number of said posts of the head. In order that such a distributor will provide ignition for an engine having a} greater number of explosion periods than there are spark gaps to be fired at each explosion period, each distributing conductor arm is so constructed that it cooperates a plurality of times during each cycle of operation of the distributor with each terminal post connected with a sparking impulse generator.

The present application provides for the simultaneous firing of a plurality of spark gaps at each explosion period through the agency of sparking impulse generating means combined with a distributor which employs distributing conductor arms of simple design and a suflicient number of sparking impulse generator terminal posts so arranged with respect to the conductor arms that at successive firing intervals, each arm will cooperate successively with the sparking impulse generator terminal posts of the head. B reason of this arrangement, each con ucting arm may be constructed as a simple bar conductor since it does not cooperate with each sparking impulse generator terminal post of the head more than once before passing into cooperative relation with another terminal post.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of two forms of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 together constitute and diagrammatically illustrate a form of invention of an ignition apparatus in which the drive shaft of the ignition timer dis tributor unit rotates at cycle speed, that is,

engine speed for a two-c cle engine and onehalf engine speed for a our cycle engine.

Figures 3 and 4 taken together constitute a wiring diagram forming a modified form in which the shaft of the timer distributor unit rotates at one-half cycle speed, that is, one-half engine speed in a two-cycle engine, or one-fourth engine speed for a four-cycle en ne.

eferring to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically the cylinders of an eight-cylinder engine, the cylinders being numbered from 1 to 8. Each cylinder has two spark plugs A and B.

In Figure 2, 20 designates a storage battery which is connected by an ignition switch 21 with a wire 22 connected with rimary coils P1 and P2 connected in series wit a circuit interrupter and connected with primary coils P3 and P4 by a second circuit is driven at cycle speed, that is, engine speed for a two-cycle engine, or one half engine speed for a four-cycle "engine. The shaft 23 drives a cam 24 which, in this invention, rotates clockwise as indicated by arrow 25.

The circuit interrupter to which the primary coils P1 and P2 are connected comprises a lever 30 pivoted at 31 carrying a contact 32 coo contact 33 whic is grounded. The lever BO carries a rubbing block 34 which cooperates with the cam 24-and is connected with one end of the leaf spring conductor 35, the other end of which is attached to a terminal 36 connected by a wire 37"with the coils P1 and P2 in series. The circuit interrupter to which primary coils P3 and P4 are connected comprises a lever 40 pivoted at 41 carrying a contact 42 cooperating with a stationary contact 43 which is rounded. The lever carries a rubbing bTock 44 which cooperates with the cam 24, and is connected with one end of the leaf spring conductor 45, the other end of which is attached to a terminal 46 connected by a wire 47 with coils P3 and P4 in series. a

The timer contacts 32, 33 are shunted by a condenser 38 and the contacts 42 and 43 by a condenser 48. 2

The rubbing blocks 34 and 44 are located with respect to the axis in the cam 24' so that the pairs of the contacts will be separated alternately, that is, every of rotation of the shaft 23 for an eight cylinder 36 en 'ne.

he primary coils P1, P2, P3 and P4 cooperate respectively with secondary coils S1, S2, S3 and S4, one end of-each coil being grounded through the primary circuit 40 and the batter I The main istributor shaft 23 drives a rotor block 50, indicated by dot-and-dash lines in the drawin Block 50 carries rotor segments R1 and 2, which move in a path 46 located between two concentric rows of distributor posts or terminals, the posts of the] inner row being numbered'51 and the ostsj of the outer row 52. The posts of the 1111181 row have special numbers to designate to' sts ,are

50 which secondary winding these connected. It will be observed -t at there are two posts 51 #81 connected by wire 61 51 #82 connected by a wire 62 with the secondar S2. There are two osts #03 connecte by wire 63 with secondiu'yS3, There are two posts 51 #84 connected by wire 64 with secondary S4. 7

- The outer row of the distributor posts 52 have special numbers that designate to which spark plugs of the engine cylinders they are to be connected. For example, it "will be noted that when the timer circuit breaker lever 30 is about to be moved counflfi terc oc w se by t e cam 24 t .s peaefie th s rating with a stationary contact 32 from the contact 33, rotor R1 is located between distributor post 51 #81 and distributor post 52 #1A-S1Rl, and that rotor R2 is located between the distributor post 51 #82 and distributor post 52 -#1B-S2R2. The designation 1AS1 R1 means that post 52 is connected with spark plug A of the cylinder 1, that a sparking impulse for that spark plug is enerated in s'econdar S1 and that rotor 1 serves to conduct the sparkin im ulse. Similarly, the designation IB- 2 2 indicates that at the instant of contact separation the sparking impulse generated in secondary S2 is conducted by rotor R2 to a distributor post 52 which is connected to spark plug B of cylinder 1. With this explanation the meanin of the other indicia applied to the other istributor posts 52 should be quite clear.

In the form of invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 the distributor shaft 23 rotates at engine cycle speed consequently the rotor block 50 makes one coin lete revolution during each engine cycle. t each 45 of movement of the rotor block 50 a sparking imulse is generated andthe pairs of coils 1S1, and P2-S2 are operated alternately with the pairs of coils P3S3, and P4-S4. Each rotor R1, R2 cooperates with one of the inner rows of distributor posts 51 and with every other post 52 of the outer row.

Two standard spark plu s may be used in each cylinder but one doub e gap spark plug could be used in place of the two standar plugs in which case one secondary circuit wouldbe completed through the circu1t of the other secondary in which a sparking impulse is generated at the same time. Tnstead of using four separate coils with grounded secondaries, two coils may be used with insulated secondaries. For example, the coil P2S2 could be omitted and one end of the secondary S1 would be connected as shown and the other end could be connected with distributor posts 51 #82. Likewise instead of coils P3-S3 and P4S4, one coil could be used and one end of the secondary of that coil could be connected with distributor post 51 #83 and the other "end connected with distributor post 51 with the secondary S1. There are two posts Referrin to Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that igure 3 is a duplicate of Figure 1, but has been repeated for .the sake of convenience in explaining Figure 4. The primary circuits P1, P2, P3 and P4 are the same as in Figure'2 with the exception that the circuit interrupters are operated by an eight-lobe cam 124 which is rotated by a distributor drive shaft 123 which turns at onehalf cycle speed, that is, one-half engine speed fora two-cycle engine or one-fourth engine speed for a four-cycle engine. The

\ tially the same instant a sparkin eonora rubbing blocks 34 and 44 are so located that they will be operated alternately by the cam 124. F or an eight-cylinder engine the rubbing blocks would be angularly spaced 18Oi22 The shaft 123 drives a distributor rotor 150 which "carries distributing segments 151 and 152 which move in a path between two concentric circular rows of distributor posts, the inner row being designated by numeral 153 and the outer row by numeral 154. Each post 153 has a special designation to designate with which secondary coil it is connected. It will be observed that there are four posts #81 alternating with four posts #83. The our posts #81 are connected by wire 161 with secondar S1. The four posts #83 are connecte by wire 163 with secondary S3. There are four posts 153'#j82 alternating with'four posts 153 #841 The four posts #82 are connected by wire 162 with secondary S2 and the four posts #84 are con-' nected by wire 164 with secondary S4.

Each of the posts 153 is radially opposite a post 154. Each post 154 has an indicia designating to which spark plug it is connected. Assuming, for example, that the cam 124 is rotating clockwise, as indicated by arrow 125 in Figure 4, it will be apparent that the contacts 32 and 33 are about to separate to efi'ect a generation of the spark impulse in secondary S1 and S2. The sparkin impulse in secondary S1 will be conduct by rotor segment 151 from one of the posts 153 #81 to a post 154 #1A, the latter indioia designating that this post is connected to spark plug A of cylinder 1. At substanimpulse generated in the secondary S2 wil be conducted by rotor segment 152 from a post 153 #82 to a post 154 #113,, the latter indicia designating that this post is connected to spark plug B of cylinder 1.. The shaft 123 rotates at one-half cycle speed. Therefore, four lobes of cam 124 will o erate upon each of the circuit breaker rub ing blocks 44, 34, thereby producing eight interrupter openings alternately and thereby effecting eight instances of generation of s arking impulses. At each instant of sparking impulse generation two sparking impulses are generated, thus making a total of 16 spark imulses generated during each one-half revoution of cam 124. These 16 sparking impulses are conducted b the rotor segments 151 and 152 during eac one-half revolution of the rotor 15,0.

' This form of the invention is adapted for is driven by the engine atone-half cycle speed'. GlWheresuch ashaft is available this 'fj..lthe inventionfis desirable since no "gearingfis required between the distributor shaft and the engine shaft,

As in the first form of the'invention one double gap spark plug may be used in the place of two standard spark plugs in which case the circuit of one secondary would be completed through the circuit of the other secondary in which a sparking impulse is concurrently generated. As in the first form of the invention two double end coils could be used in place of four standard coils. By

the term double end is meant the coil in which the secondary has two insulated terminals, each connectible with a distributor p It will be noted that in both forms of the invention the sparking impulse generator terminals are fewer in number than the terminal posts of the distributor head to which the generator terminals are connected. Therefore, each generator terminal is connected with a group of a plurality of sparking impulse generator terminal posts of the head. Each group of posts alternates with posts of another group. 7

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a-preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow.

VVh at is claimed is as follows:

1. llgnition apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle comprising, in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in groups simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, the posts of one row being connected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine, said distributor comprising a rotor carrying distributing conductors which move between the rows of osts in order to provide a conducting path etween certain pairs of posts, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time; a plurality of sparking impulses generating devices having terminals connected respectively with certain groups of posts of the other row, and engine operated means for controllin said devices.

2. llgnitlon apparatus for internal combustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle comprising, ,in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in groups at each explosion period, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, the posts of one row being connected provide a conducting path between certain pairs of posts, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired simultaneously at each explosion period; a plurality of sparking impulses generating (lGYlCOS, each device having as many sparking impulse terminals as there" are spark gaps to be fired simultaneously at comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, the posts of one row being connected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine, said distributor comprising a rotor carrying distributing conductors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide a conducting path between certain pairs of posts, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time, a plurality of groups of ignition coils, each group comprising as many secondary coils as there are spark gaps to be fired at the same time, said secondaries being connected respectively with certain groups of posts of the other row; and engine driven circuit integrupters operated alternately to control the groups of coils.

4. Ignition apparatus for internal com-i bustion engines having a plurality of explosion periods during each engine cycle, comprising in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to. a-pluralty of spark gaps to be fired at the same time, said distributor comprising innerand outer concentric rows of distributor posts, the posts of the first row being equal in numher to the total number of spark gaps and being connected respectively with said gaps, the number of posts of the second row being equal to the number of engine cylinders, a distributor rotor carrying conductors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide a conducting path between certain pairs of posts, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time; a plurality of sparking impulses generating devices having terminals connected respectively with certain groups of osts of the second row; a current source; circuit interrupters respectively for controlling connection between the current source and the devices for generating sparking impulses; a cam for operating said interrupters; and a shaft making one revolution per engine cycle for driving the cam and rotor.

5. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking im pulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired at the same instant, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, the number of posts in each row being equal in numberto the total number of spark gaps, the posts of one row being connected respectively with the spark gaps, a distributor rotor carrying conductors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide a conducting path between certain pairs of posts, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps in a cylinder to be fired at the same instant; a plurality of sparking impulse generating devices having terminals connected respectively with certain groups of posts of the, other row; a current source; circuit interrupters respectively for controlling connections between the current source and the devices for generating s arking impulses; a

a cam for operating sai interrupters; and a shaft making one-half revolution per engine cycle for driving the cam and rotor.

6. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines having N explosion periods during each engine cycle and comprising, in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to S spark gaps to be fired at the same instant, said distributor comprising inner and outer concentric rows of posts, N x S posts in one row, and N posts in the other row, a distributor rotor carrying S conductors which move between the rows of posts; two groups of sparking impulse generating devices each group having S secondary terminals, each secondary terminal being connected with a plurality 1 of posts of the other row; two circuit interrupters respectively controlling said devices; a cam. having N/2 lobes for operating the 'interrupters alternatel and a shaft operated by the engine an making one revolution during each engine 0 cle.

7. Ignition apparatus or internal combustion engines having N explosion periods during each engine cycle and comprising, in combination, a'distributor for distributing sparking impulses to S spark gaps to be fired at the same instant; said distributor comprising concentric rows of N x S posts in each row, a distributor rotor carrying S conductors which move between the rows of posts; two groups of sparking impulse generating devices each group having S secondary terminals, each secondary termir nal being connected with a plurality of posts of one row; two circuit interrupters respectively controlling said devices; a cam having N lobes for operati the interrupters, alternately; and a she toperated .by

more

the engine and making one-halt revolution during each engine cycle.

8. ignition apparatus for internal com bustion engines having a plurality of expid sion periods during each engine cycle comprising, in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in groups simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, the posts of one row being connected respectively with the spark gaps of the engine, said distributor comprising a rotor carrying distributing conductors which move between the rows of posts in order to provide a conducting path between certain pairs of posts, the number of conductors being equal to the number of spark gaps to be fired at the same time; sparking impulse generating means having a plurality of terminals fewer than the posts not connected with spark gaps, said terminals being connected respectivelywith groups of said last mentioned posts, the posts of agroup connected with one sparking impulse generator terminal alternately with posts or another group connected with another sparking impulse generator terminal, and means for controlling the sparking impulse generating means.

9. ignition apparatus for internal combustionengines comprising, in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in groups Simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, one row of posts being connected respectively with spark gaps of the engine, sparking impulse generating means having terminals connected with another row of distributor posts, and said distributor including distributing conductor .arms, each arm cooperating with alternate posts of the row of posts connected with spark gaps and each arm cooperating with all of the sparking impulse generator terminal posts in succession andbut once with each of said posts during acycle of operation of the distrib utor.

10. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in groups simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, one row of posts-being connected respectively with spark gaps of the engine, sparking impulse generating means having terminals connected with another row of distributor posts, the sparking impulse generator terminals being fewer in number than said other row of distributors and being connected respectively with groups of said posts, the posts of a group connected with one sparking impulse generator terminal alternating with posts of another group of posts connected with another sparking impulse generator terminal, and said distributor including distributing conductor arms, each arm cooperating with alternate posts of the row of posts connected with spark gaps and each arm cooperating with all of the sparking impulse generator terminal posts in succession and but once with each of said posts during a cycle of operation of the distributor.

l1. Ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines comprising, in combination, a distributor for distributing sparking impulses to a plurality of spark gaps to be fired in groups simultaneously at each explosion period, said distributor comprising concentric rows of distributor posts, one row of posts being connected respectively with spark gaps of the engine, sparking impulse generating means having terminals connected with another row of distributor posts, the sparking impulse generator terminals being fewer in number than said other row of distributors and being connected respectively with groups of said posts, the posts of a group connected with one sparking impulse generator terminal alternating with posts of another group of posts connected with another sparking impulse generator terminal, and said distributor including distributing conductor arms passing between the rows of posts and cooperating with all of the sparking impulse generator terminal posts in succession and but once with each of said posts during a cycle of operation of the distributor.

in testimony whereof we hereto aiiix our signatures.

' CHARLES HALL DAVIS, JR.

HERMAN L. HARTZELL. 

